Category: Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

Source: Eurojust

The criminal group set up several warehouses in Spain and Portugal where boats that are illegal in Spain were manufactured in Portugal. The boats were then sold to other criminal groups, who used them to transport drugs such as heroin and marijuana into Spain. The criminal group also used its own boats and crews to transport drugs to Spain.

The authorities began investigating the criminal organisation at the end of 2022, when they learned of the group’s production and sale of narco-boats. As the group was active in Portugal and Spain, an international operation was required to stop the criminals in their tracks. A joint investigation team (JIT) was set up at Eurojust, to enable Portuguese and Spanish authorities to investigate the organisation together.

The JIT allowed the authorities to exchange information and evidence directly and quickly, to cooperate in real time and to jointly carry out operations. Due to this cooperation, coordinated by Eurojust, all the members of the group were identified and enough evidence was gathered to launch an international operation that dismantled the criminal group.

During the action day in Portugal and Spain, the authorities intercepted two boats with drugs before they could depart. The operation that deployed 200 agents led to the arrest of 28 suspects in Spain. Authorities seized 23 kilos of heroin, two marijuana plantations, four narco-boats and more than EUR 150 000 in cash.

The following authorities were involved in the operations:

• Portugal: PPO Viana do Castelo; Policia Judiciária
• Spain: Juzgado de Instruccion num. 2 of Cambados, Galicia; PP Antudrug Pontevedra; EDOA Group of Guardia Civil

Source: Eurojust

The General Public Prosecution Office of Dresden and the Police Directorate of Chemnitz started investigations in June 2020, following complaints from online investors. They had been lured to professionally designed websites, promising high returns on low investments. Victims only received a maximum of 3% of their initial investment, if any money was returned at all. Through the websites, the perpetrators managed to gain access to personal data and bank account details, creating fake customer accounts to lend credibility to the scheme.

To date, around 120 German victims are known, who have lost approximately EUR 12 million. However, further assessments by German investigators indicate that there are many more victims worldwide, with the fraud totaling at least EUR 300 million. It could even be as high as EUR 500 million. As result of these investigations, a number of suspects have been identified, including the one alleged main perpetrator, who has now been arrested. Investigations into the fraud are ongoing.

Due to links with Serbia, a JIT was set up with the help of the Agency in February this year, to ensure close cooperation between German and Serbian judicial and law enforcement investigators. Eurojust also organised four coordination meetings with participation of German, Cypriot and Serbian representatives to prepare for the action day and assisted with the execution of European Investigation Orders and requests for Mutual Legal Assistance to Serbia.

During the action day, 22 places were searched in Cyprus and Serbia. Furthermore, computer equipment, hard drives, mobile phones and digital data have been seized. Germany will ask the Cypriot authorities to surrender the arrested suspect.

The action day was carried out at the request of and by the following authorities on the ground:

• Germany: General Public Prosecutor’s Office (Generalstaatsanwaltschaft) Dresden; Police Directorate (Kriminalpolizeiinspektion) Chemnitz
• Cyprus: Cyprus Police
• Serbia: Special Prosecutоr’s Office for High-Tech Crime, Service for Combating High-Tech Crime (MOI)

Source: Eurojust

As organised crime groups increasingly exploit emerging technologies to facilitate their illicit activities, the need for effective and efficient collection of electronic evidence has become paramount. The meeting aimed to tackle the new legal challenges arising from the shift towards virtual evidence, and to identify best practices for Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) to support judicial and law enforcement authorities in obtaining electronic evidence across the EU and beyond.

Eurojust has been actively involved in supporting the gathering of electronic evidence and ensuring its admissibility in courts. The Agency, alongside Europol, has co-implemented the SIRIUS Project, which aims to enhance cooperation between judicial and law enforcement authorities, as well as service providers, to expedite access to electronic evidence across borders.

The meeting was opened by Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran and Europol Executive Director Ms Catherine De Bolle.

In his opening remarks, President Hamran said, “The effective collection of electronic evidence is a crucial component of nearly all criminal investigations and prosecutions today. Through collaboration and knowledge-sharing among JIT Experts, I’m confident we can develop innovative solutions to overcome the challenges of gathering, preserving, and exchanging electronic evidence, and ultimately strengthen our collective ability to bring criminals to justice.”

More than 85 participants attended the event, including 36 JIT National Experts from 23 EU Member States alongside representatives from the European Commission, eu-LISA, EJTN, ICC-OTP and OLAF.

For two decades, the JITs Network has been instrumental in facilitating the work of practitioners, encouraging the use of JITs, and promoting the exchange of experience and best practices. On this occasion, the JITs Network marked its 20th annual meeting. These annual meetings are a vital forum for JIT National Experts to discuss issues related to JITs and international cooperation; laying the foundation for trust and understanding that is essential for efficient cross-border collaboration.

Mr Piotr Radomski, one of the longest-standing JIT National Experts in the Network, stated: “The outstanding commitment of both past and present JIT National Experts, alongside the role the colleagues of the JITs Network Secretariat play, is evident to all practitioners fighting transnational crime. All of them are working with passion and dedication to further promote the idea of cooperation in the form of JITs.”

The JITs Network of National Experts on Joint Investigation Teams was established in 2005 to facilitate the work of practitioners, as well as to encourage the use of JITs and contribute to the sharing of experiences and best practices. The JITs Network Secretariat has been hosted by Eurojust since 2011.

Source: Eurojust

Prosecutor General of Hungary, Mr Péter Polt, said: ‘The area of intellectual property crimes is an area that has been tremendously affected by the rapid development of information technology in the recent decades. Due to this, country borders have lost their importance when it comes to intellectual property infringements, while the modus operandi have become diverse. Therefore, provisions of civil law and criminal law need to form a coherent system in the international context as well, while simultaneously taking particularities of the national legal systems into account.’

Representing Belgium, Prosecutor General of Ghent, Mr Erwin Dernicourt, pointed out: ‘During this Consultative Forum, the Prosecutors of the EU Member States discussed the possibilities and opportunities offered by the new Network of Specialised Prosecutors. This network will be a structure with a hands-on approach, supporting prosecutors from across the EU in their day-to-day work by exchanging best practice and information on new trends in organised crime. The network will truly strengthen the judicial approach to the fight against organised crime with a focus, during the initial years, on drug-related organised crime in harbours and logistics hubs.’

Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran stated: ‘In a time of great need to step up the fight against organised crime, and as drug trafficking generates revenues of at least over EUR 30 billion, Eurojust is delighted to host the annual Consultative Forum, bringing together Prosecutors General and Directors of Public Prosecutions from all EU Member States. Our shared commitment to fighting organised crime and strengthening judicial cooperation among partner countries outside the European Union is crucial. Together, we are building a stronger, safer Europe through closer collaboration and coordinated action.’

Infringements of intellectual property rights show a strong increase. At Eurojust, the number of cases concerning intellectual property rights has more than doubled in the past three years. These infringements are a major concern for legally operating enterprises. The illegal use of brands and logos undermines the economic position and reputation of the original designers and producers.

Furthermore, online piracy through the unauthorised downloading of products and services harms the creative industry in the EU. This is done, for instance, via the illegal streaming and distribution of television programmes, films and sports events. Not only does this damage designers, and programme and filmmakers, but also broadcasters and streaming platforms that pay authors’ rights. It even damages amateur and youth sports, which profit from part of the broadcasting rights for sports competitions.

This crime type also causes risks to public health, as it often leads to the production of fake consumer goods, such as medicines, toys, electronic equipment and even car parts, that do not fulfil safety requirements. Online and other kinds of piracy often lead to money laundering, too.

Penalty levels and legislation regarding intellectual property rights in the EU vary. However, by establishing common criteria for the assessment of damages between Member States, for instance, the work of public prosecutors can be strengthened. The discussion in the 18th Forum focused particularly on this aspect.

A second major area of focus was the establishment of the EJOCN, as 76 percent of criminal groups in the EU are active in between two and seven countries, and profits from all illicit activities are estimated at around EUR 139 billion annually. Dismantling these groups requires a transnational approach that is fast and flexible, and that can adapt to an ever-changing criminal landscape.

The Prosecutors General discussed how to increase the exchange of information and the speed of these exchanges, which are essential to tackle worldwide operating criminal networks. Furthermore, they looked into the use of encrypted communication tools and data protection issues concerning organised crime.

The Prosecutors General also exchanged ideas and suggestions on the transfers of criminal proceedings between EU Member States and investigations into penalty executions across the Union.

Source: Eurojust

The criminal group, which operated throughout Europe, bought pills from other criminal networks in Serbia. The pills, used to treat anxiety, seizures and insomnia, were then hidden in tyres, in cars, which were transported on lorries, and in clothing to be taken to Romania and Estonia. After arriving in Romania or Estonia, the pills were transported on to the Nordic countries. Members of the criminal group in Finland and Norway acted as distributors and sold the pills on the streets. The sale of the pills was highly profitable for the criminal group. The pills seized during the operations done by the national authorities has a market value of approximately EUR 12.5 million.

To dismantle the intricate network of criminals, the Romanian authorities launched an investigation into the group. Given the transnational nature of the criminal group, with activities in Romania, Estonia, Finland, and Serbia, international cooperation between the authorities started, supported by Eurojust and Europol.

A joint investigation team (JIT) was set up at Eurojust between Romanian, Estonian, Finnish and Serbian authorities to collect and exchange information and evidence directly, and carry out joint operations.

To investigate the activity of the criminal group, special investigative techniques such as control delivery and undercover investigator were successfully used by the authorities of all the countries involved. To this end, Eurojust facilitated the coordination and execution in Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia of European Investigation Orders issued by Romania. Following these actions, 39 people were arrested, and more than 4 million prescription pills were seized.

After these measures, the JIT continued their investigations to halt the activities of the criminal group and bring them to justice.

A large-scale international operation on 17 October coordinated from Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague, led to the arrest of 14 people in Romania, 11 people in Serbia and 1 person in Finland. 41 houses searches were carried out simultaneously in Romania, 19 in Serbia and one in Finland.

Items seized during the operation include large quantities of pills, cash, mobile phones, firearms and luxury cars. 2 houses have been also seized in Romania. Europol facilitated the overall operation by liaising with the operating authorities, processing the available data and deploying two specialists with mobile offices to support the action day.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

• Romania:
  • Prosecution Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice
  • Directorate for Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism
  • Oradea Territorial Office
  • General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police
  • Directorate for Combating Organized Crime
  • Department for Special Operations
  • Central Intelligence Analysis Unit of the Romanian Police;
  • General Inspectorate for Border Police – Bors, Nadlac and Petea Offices
• Estonia:
  • Northern District Prosecutor’s Office
  • Police and Border Guard Board, Northern Prefecture, Crime Bureau, Drug and Organised Crime Unit
• Finland:
  • Prosecution District of Southern Finland
  • Helsinki Police Department and National Prosecution Authority
• Serbia:
  • Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime
  • Criminal Investigations Directorate
  • Service for Combatting Organized Crime
  • Department for Combating Organized Drug Smuggling

Source: Eurojust

The international criminal group set up a well-structured organisation to counterfeit famous and exclusive French red wine, worth up to EUR 15 000 per bottle. By working with printing houses in Italy, the criminal group was able to re-create the corks and labels of famous French wineries. The forged wine was then delivered to an Italian airport and taken abroad to be sold at market value around the world by wine traders. The criminals were able to sell the bottles of the counterfeit wine, generating profits of over EUR 2 million.

The investigation started after suspicions of forgery reached French authorities. The authorities discovered that the criminal group had been running their operation from Italy. Investigations continued between the French and Italian authorities at Eurojust. To support the investigation, Eurojust ensured the execution of European Investigation Orders in Italy. 

The criminal group was dismantled during operations carried out in Paris, Milan and Turin. During 14 house searches, authorities were able to seize counterfeit labels and bottles of wine, as well as computers, phones, valuable goods, (including luxury watches with a value of EUR 1.4 million), and important documentation for the investigation. Money was also seized, including EUR 77 000 in France and EUR 40 000 in Italy. Seven suspects were arrested based on their criminal activity of introducing and selling products with false markings.

The following authorities were involved in the actions:

• France: Court of Dijon; Gendarmerie Nationale (SR Dijon)
• Italy: Public Prosecutors Office Turin; Public Prosecutors Office Milan